Staff Bios
Kathleen S. Duran-Thal, R.D.
Director of Nutrition
Since 1985, Kathleen Duran-Thal has served as Director of Nutrition for Cooper Wellness
Program at Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas where she is responsible for menu planning,
food purchasing, analysis of menu plans, and nutrition workshops.
Duran-Thal holds a B.S. in home economics from Southwest Texas State University
and a B.S. in nutrition and dietetics from The University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center. She is a registered dietitian and a member of the American Dietetics
Association and the Dallas Dietetics Association. She served her two year internship
at Parkland and other Dallas area hospitals and was a clinical dietetic technician
and manager of nutrition care at Presbyterian Hospital.
Since training at the Culinary Institute of America, Duran-Thal has enjoyed her
association with chefs in fine restaurants and hotels around the United States.
She provides menu analysis, health promotions, and health-related nutrition seminars
for major corporations.
Duran-Thal authored the Cookery Classics cookbook, and has provided the recipes
and acted as nutrition consultant for Dr. Roy Vartabedian’s top ten best seller,
Nutripoints. She was also the nutrition consultant for Casey Meyers’ book, Walking.
She has appeared on the "Today Show" and on CNN demonstrating her talent of imparting
technical information in lay terms.
Susie Kania, M.S.
Exercise Physiologist
Susie Kania has a Master of Science degree in exercise physiology from the University
of North Texas. Kania serves as the Exercise Physiologist for the Cooper Wellness
Program. Her duties include making exercise recommendations while working with medical
restrictions, supervising the exercise of participants and giving presentations
on strength training, heart rate monitoring, and home conditioning.
Previously, Kania was the Exercise Physiologist at the Greenhouse where she was
responsible for pre-exercise screening, body composition measurement and individual
consultations. She is certified as an exercise technologist by the American College
of Sports Medicine and in CPR by the American Heart Association.
Riva L. Rahl, M.D.
Medical Director
Dr. Riva Rahl is medical director of Cooper Wellness. She is also a staff physician
at Cooper Clinic and specializes in internal medicine. In her undergraduate program,
Dr. Rahl double majored in biochemistry and exercise science/ exercise physiology
at Rice University. She earned her medical degree (1999) from University of California
San Francisco School of Medicine and returned to Texas for her internal medicine
internship and residency at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
(UTSW) in Dallas. From 2002 to summer 2005, Dr. Rahl completed a residency in emergency
medicine at UTSW, serving as Chief Resident the final year. She is certified by
the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Emergency Medicine.
Cardiovascular fitness, health education, nutrition, and lifestyle modification
are Dr. Rahl's areas of special medical interest.
Todd Whitthorne
Executive Director
Todd Whitthorne has been in the public eye for more than 20 years. He is currently
the president and chief executive officer of Cooper Concepts, Inc., and executive
director of Cooper Wellness Program, a division of Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas.
He is also a member of the Governor's Advisory Council on Physical Fitness.
After graduating from UCLA with a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology with
an emphasis in exercise physiology, Whitthorne began a career that would take him
to various stops from Washington, D.C., to Phoenix and Dallas. He won both an Emmy
and a Katie award in 1999 as co-host of "Good Morning Texas" on WFAA-TV, the Dallas
ABC affiliate.
An accomplished and frequent speaker to large and small corporate groups, schools,
and nonprofit organizations, Whitthorne is well versed in a variety of wellness
topics.